Akin Osuntokun has claimed that a 2007 public opinion survey reportedly commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in favour of Nuhu Ribadu triggered the long-running political rivalry with Nasir El-Rufai.
Former Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign Council, Akin Osuntokun, has alleged that a public opinion survey reportedly commissioned by President Bola Tinubu in 2007, which favoured Nuhu Ribadu over Nasir El-Rufai, sparked the long-standing political rivalry between the two northern politicians. Speaking on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme, Osuntokun said Tinubu, having just completed his tenure as Lagos State governor, sought to back a younger northern candidate in line with zoning expectations and commissioned a survey whose result “clearly favoured Ribadu.”
He stated that Ribadu reportedly secured about 45 per cent support compared to El-Rufai’s seven per cent, prompting Tinubu to adopt Ribadu, a move that allegedly generated tension and marked the beginning of enduring bad blood between them. Osuntokun added, “Tinubu had just left as governor of Lagos State and wanted to support or sponsor the younger generation since it was viewed as the turn of the North. He then carried out a public opinion survey. The result clearly favoured Ribadu,” noting that subsequent political developments and alleged pressures later deepened the rift.
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